The effect of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential Oil on anxiety in women at risk of preterm labor

Psychological disorders such as anxiety can increase preterm labor by hormonal stimulation, so this study was performed with aim to determine the effect of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium essential oil on anxiety in women at risk of preterm labor.

This two-group semi-experimental interventional study was conducted in 2020 on 65 pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery referred to the health centers in Jiroft. Eligible women who received a score of ≥10 in the Holbrook Pregnancy Screening Questionnaire and met other inclusion criteria received Citrus aurantium essential oil or placebo twice daily for two weeks. Anxiety was assessed before and after the intervention (end of the first week and end of the second week) with the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 21) and independent t-test and paired t-test, analysis of variance and Friedman test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

In the intervention group, changes in overt and covert anxiety scores of the stages (before, 1 week and 2 weeks after the intervention) were significant (p = 0.001), but in the placebo group, based on the results of repeated measures test, the difference between these changes between stages was not significant in the two groups of overt anxiety (p = 0.836) and covert anxiety (P = 0.575).

The use of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium led to a decrease in anxiety scores in pregnant women at risk of preterm labor. Therefore, it can be effective as an easy, cheap and non-invasive intervention in reducing the anxiety of women at risk of preterm labor.